PREMIER MULTI-SERIES VIT AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST July 25, 2012 PREMIER MULTI-SERIES VIT (formerly Allianz Global Investors VIT) AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
Exhibit (a)(1)
AMENDED AND RESTATED
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
July 25, 2012
(formerly Allianz Global Investors VIT)
AMENDED AND RESTATED
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST made this 25th day of July, 2012, by the Trustees hereunder, and by the holders of shares of beneficial interest to be issued hereunder as hereinafter provided, amending and restating the Agreement and Declaration of Trust made at Boston, Massachusetts, the 30th day of May, 2012, for the purposes of eliminating references to the initial sole trustee, adding Trustees as signatories and making certain other changes hereto:
WHEREAS, pursuant to Article 6 of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust, the Trustees of the Trust have determined that the Agreement and Declaration of Trust should be amended and restated in its entirety as hereinafter set forth; and
NOW, THEREFORE, this Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust shall take effect as of the time of execution by a majority of the Trustees of the Trust and shall be filed with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
WITNESSETH that:
WHEREAS, this Trust has been formed to carry on the business of an investment company; and
WHEREAS, the Trustees have agreed to manage all property coming into their hands as trustees of a Massachusetts business trust in accordance with the provisions hereinafter set forth;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Trustees hereby declare that they will hold all cash, securities and other assets, which they may from time to time acquire in any manner as Trustees hereunder IN TRUST to manage and dispose of the same upon the following terms and conditions for the pro rata benefit of the holders from time to time of Shares in this Trust as hereinafter set forth.
ARTICLE I
NAME AND DEFINITIONS
Name
Section 1. This Trust shall be known as the “Premier Multi-Series VIT” and the Trustees shall conduct the business of the Trust under that name or any other name as they may from time to time determine.
Definitions
Section 2. Whenever used herein, unless otherwise required by the context or specifically provided:
(a) “Trust” refers to the Massachusetts business trust established by this Declaration, as amended or restated from time to time;
(b) “Trustees” refers to the Trustees of the Trust named herein or elected or appointed in accordance with Article IV hereof;
(c) “Shares” means the equal proportionate transferable units of interest into which the beneficial interest in the Trust shall be divided from time to time or, if more than one series or class of Shares is authorized by the Trustees, the equal proportionate transferable units into which each series or class of Shares shall be divided from time to time;
(d) “Shareholder” means a record owner of Shares;
(e) “1940 Act” refers to the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules and regulations thereunder, or applicable orders of the Securities and Exchange Commission, all as such statute, rules, regulations or orders may be amended from time to time;
(f) The terms “Interested Person” and “principal underwriter,” shall have the meanings given them in the 1940 Act;
(g) “Declaration” or “Declaration of Trust” shall mean this Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended or restated from time to time;
(h) “Bylaws” shall mean the Bylaws of the Trust, as amended or restated from time to time;
(i) The terms “class” or “class of Shares” refer to the division of Shares representing any series into two or more classes in accordance with the provisions of Article III; and
(j) The term “series” or “series of Shares” refers to the one or more separate investment portfolios of the Trust into which the assets and liabilities of the Trust may be divided and the Shares of the Trust representing the beneficial interest of Shareholders in such respective portfolios.
ARTICLE II
PURPOSE OF TRUST
The purpose of the Trust is to provide investors a managed investment primarily in securities, debt instruments and other instruments and rights of a financial character and to carry on such other business as the Trustees may from time to time determine pursuant to their authority under this Declaration.
ARTICLE III
SHARES
Division of Beneficial Interest
Section 1. The Shares of the Trust shall be issued in one or more series as the Trustees may, without Shareholder approval, authorize. Each series shall be preferred over all other series in respect of the assets specifically allocated to that series within the meaning of the 1940 Act and shall represent a separate investment portfolio of the Trust. The beneficial interest in each series shall at all times be divided into Shares, with a par value of $0.00001 per share or such other amount as may be fixed from time to time by the Trustees, each of which shall, except as provided in the following sentence, represent an equal proportionate interest in the series with each other Share of the same series, none having priority or preference over another. The Trustees may, without Shareholder approval, divide the Shares of any series into two or more classes, Shares of each such class having such preferences and special or relative rights and privileges (including conversion rights, if any) as the Trustees may determine or as shall be set forth in the Bylaws. The number of Shares of each series or class authorized shall be unlimited and the Shares so authorized may be represented in part by fractional shares. The Trustees may from time to time divide or combine the Shares of any series or class into a greater or lesser number without thereby changing the proportionate beneficial interest in the series or class.
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Ownership of Shares
Section 2. The ownership of Shares shall be recorded on the books of the Trust or a transfer or similar agent for the Trust. Except as provided in the Bylaws or as the Trustees may otherwise determine from time to time, no certificates certifying the ownership of Shares shall be issued. The Trustees may make such rules as they consider appropriate for the issuance of Share certificates, the transfer of Shares and similar matters. The record books of the Trust as kept by the Trust or any transfer or similar agent, as the case may be, shall be conclusive as to who are the Shareholders of each series and class and as to the number of Shares of each series and class held from time to time by each Shareholder.
Investments in the Trust
Section 3. The Trustees shall accept investments in the Trust from such persons and on such terms and, subject to any requirements of law, for such consideration, which may consist of cash or tangible or intangible property or a combination thereof, as the Trustees or the Bylaws from time to time authorize.
All consideration received by the Trust for the issue or sale of Shares of each series, together with all income, earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof, including any proceeds derived from the sale, exchange or liquidation thereof, and any funds or payments derived from any reinvestment of such proceeds in whatever form the same may be, shall irrevocably belong to the series of Shares with respect to which the same were received by the Trust for all purposes, subject only to the rights of creditors, and shall be so handled upon the books of account of the Trust and are herein referred to as “assets of” such series.
No Preemptive Rights
Section 4. Shareholders shall have no preemptive or other right to subscribe to any additional Shares or other securities issued by the Trust.
Derivative Claims
Section 5. No Shareholder or group of Shareholders shall have the right to bring or maintain any court action, proceeding or claim on behalf of the Trust or any series or class of Shares without first making demand on the Trustees requesting the Trustees to bring or maintain such action, proceeding or claim. Such demand shall not be excused under any circumstances, including claims of alleged interest on the part of the Trustees, unless the plaintiff makes a specific showing that irreparable nonmonetary injury to the Trust or series or class of Shares would otherwise result. Such demand shall be mailed to the Secretary of the Trust at the Trust’s principal office and shall set forth with particularity the nature of the proposed court action, proceeding or claim and the essential facts relied upon by the Shareholder(s) to support the allegations made in the demand. The Trustees shall consider such demand within 90 days of its receipt by the Trust. In their sole discretion, the Trustees may submit the matter to a vote of Shareholders of the Trust or a series or class of Shares, as appropriate. Any decision by the Trustees to bring, maintain or settle (or not to bring, maintain or settle) such court action, proceeding or claim, or to submit the matter to a vote of Shareholders, shall be binding upon the Shareholders. Any decision by the Trustees to bring or maintain a court action, proceeding or suit on behalf of the Trust or a series or class of Shares shall be subject to the right of the Shareholders under Article V hereof to vote on whether or not such court action, proceeding or suit should or should not be brought or maintained.
Direct Claims
Section 6. No group of Shareholders shall have the right to bring or maintain a direct action or claim for monetary damages against the Trust or any series or class of Shares or the Trustees predicated upon an express or implied right of action under this Declaration or the 1940 Act (excepting rights of action permitted under section 36(b) of the 1940 Act), nor shall any single Shareholder, who is similarly situated to one or more other Shareholders with respect to the alleged injury, have the right to bring such an action, unless such group of Shareholders or such Shareholder has obtained authorization from the Trustees to bring the action. The requirement of authorization shall not be excused under any circumstances, including claims of alleged interest on the part of the Trustees. A request for authorization shall be mailed to the Secretary of the Trust at the Trust’s principal office and shall set forth with particularity the nature of the proposed court action, proceeding or claim and the essential facts relied upon by the group of Shareholders or Shareholder to support the allegations made in the request. The Trustees shall consider such request within 90 days of its receipt by the Trust. In their sole discretion, the Trustees may submit the matter to
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a vote of Shareholders of the Trust or series or class of Shares, as appropriate. Any decision by the Trustees to settle or to authorize (or not to settle or to authorize) such court action, proceeding or claim, or to submit the matter to a vote of Shareholders, shall be binding upon the applicable group of Shareholders or Shareholder. Any decision by the Trustees to bring or maintain a court action, proceeding or suit on behalf of the Trust or a series or class of Shares shall be subject to the right of the Shareholders under Article V hereof to vote on whether or not such court action, proceeding or suit should or should not be brought or maintained.
Status of Shares and Limitation of Personal Liability
Section 7. Shares shall be deemed to be personal property giving only the rights provided in this Declaration or the Bylaws. Every Shareholder by virtue of having become a Shareholder shall be held to have expressly assented and agreed to the terms of this Declaration and the Bylaws and to have become a party hereto and thereto. The death of a Shareholder during the continuance of the Trust shall not operate to terminate the same nor entitle the representative of any deceased Shareholder to an accounting or to take any action in court or elsewhere against the Trust or the Trustees, but only to the rights of said decedent under this Trust. Ownership of Shares shall not entitle the Shareholder to any title in or to the whole or any part of the Trust property or right to call for a partition or division of the same or for an accounting, nor shall the ownership of Shares constitute the Shareholders partners. Neither the Trust nor the Trustees, nor any officer, employee or agent of the Trust, shall have any power to bind personally any Shareholder, nor except as specifically provided herein to call upon any Shareholder for the payment of any sum of money or assessment whatsoever other than such as the Shareholder may at any time personally agree to pay.
ARTICLE IV
THE TRUSTEES
Election and Tenure
Section 1. A Trustee may be elected either by the Trustees or by the Shareholders. The number of Trustees shall be as provided by the Bylaws or as fixed from time to time by the Trustees. The Shareholders may elect Trustees at any meeting of Shareholders called by the Trustees for that purpose and to the extent required by applicable law, including paragraphs (a) and (b) of Section 16 of the 1940 Act. Each Trustee shall serve during the continued lifetime of the Trust until he or she retires, resigns, is removed or dies, or, if sooner, until the next meeting of Shareholders called for the purpose of electing Trustees and until the election and qualification of his or her successor. Any Trustee may resign at any time by written instrument signed by such Trustee and delivered to any officer of the Trust, to each other Trustee, or to a meeting of the Trustees. Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless specified to be effective at some other time. Any Trustee may be removed from office with or without cause by written instrument, signed by a majority of the Trustees, specifying the date when such removal shall become effective. Except to the extent expressly provided in a written agreement with the Trust, no Trustee resigning and no Trustee removed shall have any right to any compensation for any period following his or her resignation or removal, or any right to damages on account of such removal.
Effect of Death, Resignation, etc. of a Trustee
Section 2. The death, declination, resignation, retirement, removal or incapacity of the Trustees, or any of them, shall not operate to annul the Trust or to revoke any existing agency created pursuant to the terms of this Declaration.
Powers
Section 3. Subject to the provisions of this Declaration, the business of the Trust shall be managed by the Trustees, and they shall have all powers necessary or convenient to carry out that responsibility. Without limiting the foregoing, the Trustees may adopt Bylaws not inconsistent with this Declaration providing for the conduct of the business of the Trust and may amend and repeal them to the extent that such Bylaws do not reserve that right to the Shareholders; they may fill vacancies in or add to their number, including vacancies resulting from an increase in their number, and may elect and remove such officers and appoint and terminate such agents as they consider appropriate; they may appoint from their own number and terminate any one or more committees consisting of one or more Trustees, including an executive committee which may, when the Trustees are not in session, exercise some
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or all of the power and authority of the Trustees as the Trustees may determine; they may appoint an advisory board, the members of which shall not be Trustees and need not be Shareholders; they may employ one or more custodians of the assets of the Trust and may authorize such custodians to employ subcustodians and to deposit all or any part of such assets in a system or systems for the central handling of securities, retain a transfer agent or a shareholder servicing agent, or both, to provide for the distribution of Shares by the Trust, through one or more principal underwriters or otherwise, set record dates for the determination of Shareholders with respect to various matters, and in general delegate such authority as they consider desirable to any officer of the Trust, to any committee of the Trustees and to any agent or employee of the Trust or to any such custodian or underwriter.
Without limiting the foregoing, the Trustees shall have power and authority:
(a) To invest and reinvest cash, and to hold cash uninvested;
(b) To sell, exchange, lend, pledge, mortgage, hypothecate, lease, write options on and lease any or all of the assets of the Trust;
(c) To act as a distributor of Shares and as underwriter of, or broker or dealer in, securities and other property;
(d) To vote or give assent, or exercise any rights of ownership, with respect to stock or other securities or property; and to execute and deliver proxies or powers of attorney to such person or persons as the Trustees shall deem proper, granting to such person or persons such power and discretion with relation to securities or property as the Trustees shall deem proper;
(e) To exercise powers and rights of subscription or otherwise which in any manner arise out of ownership of securities or other property;
(f) To hold any security or property in a form not indicating any trust, whether in bearer, unregistered or other negotiable form, or in the name of the Trustees or of the Trust or in the name of a custodian, sub-custodian or other depository or a nominee or nominees or otherwise;
(g) To allocate assets, liabilities, income and expenses of the Trust to a particular series of Shares or to apportion the same among two or more series, provided that any liabilities or expenses incurred by a particular series of Shares shall be payable solely out of the assets of that series; and, to the extent necessary or appropriate to give effect to the preferences and special or relative rights and privileges of any classes of Shares, to allocate assets, liabilities, income and expenses of a series to a particular class of Shares of that series or to apportion the same among two or more classes of Shares;
(h) To consent to or participate in any plan for the reorganization, consolidation or merger of any corporation or issuer, any security of which is or was held in the Trust; to consent to any contract, lease, mortgage, purchase or sale of property by such corporation or issuer, and to pay calls or subscriptions with respect to any security held in the Trust;
(i) To join with other security holders in acting through a committee, depositary, voting trustee or otherwise, and in that connection to deposit any security with, or transfer any security to, any such committee, depositary or trustee, and to delegate to them such power and authority with relation to any security (whether or not so deposited or transferred) as the Trustees shall deem proper, and to agree to pay, and to pay, such portion of the expenses and compensation of such committee, depositary or trustee as the Trustees shall deem proper;
(j) To compromise, arbitrate or otherwise adjust claims in favor of or against the Trust on any matter in controversy, including but not limited to claims for taxes;
(k) To enter into joint ventures, general or limited partnerships, limited liability companies, and any other combinations or associations;
(l) To borrow funds;
(m) To endorse or guarantee the payment of any notes or other obligations of any person; to make contracts of guaranty or suretyship, or otherwise assume liability for payment thereof; and to mortgage and pledge the Trust property or any part thereof to secure any of or all of such obligations;
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(n) To purchase and pay for entirely out of Trust property such insurance as they may deem necessary or appropriate for the conduct of the business of the Trust, including, without limitation, insurance policies insuring the assets of the Trust and payment of distributions and principal on its portfolio investments, and insurance policies insuring the Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees, agents, investment advisers, sub-advisers or managers, principal underwriters, or independent contractors of the Trust individually against all claims and liabilities of every nature arising by reason of holding, being or having held any such office or position, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted by any such person as Shareholder, Trustee, officer, employee, agent, investment adviser, sub-adviser or manager, principal underwriter or independent contractor, including any action taken or omitted that may be determined to constitute negligence, whether or not the Trust would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability;
(o) To pay pensions for faithful service, as deemed appropriate by the Trustees, and to adopt, establish and carry out pension, profit-sharing, share bonus, share purchase, savings, thrift and other retirement, deferred compensation, incentive and benefit plans, trusts and provisions, including the purchasing of life insurance and annuity contracts as a means of providing such retirement and other benefits, for any or all of the Trustees, officers, employees and agents of the Trust; and
(p) To engage in any other lawful act or activity in which business corporations organized under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts may engage.
The Trustees shall not in any way be bound or limited by any present or future law or custom in regard to investments by trustees. The Trustees shall not be required to obtain any court order to deal with any assets of the Trust or take any other action hereunder.
Except as otherwise provided herein or from time to time in the Bylaws, any action to be taken by the Trustees may be taken by a majority of the Trustees present at a meeting of the Trustees (a quorum being present), within or without Massachusetts. Except as otherwise provided herein or from time to time in the Bylaws, any action to be taken by the Trustees may be taken at a meeting held by means of a conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time and participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting, or by written consents of a majority of the Trustees then in office (or such greater number as may be required by this Declaration, the Bylaws or applicable law).
Payment of Expenses by the Trust
Section 4. The Trustees are authorized to pay, or to cause to be paid out of the principal or income of the Trust, or partly out of principal and partly out of income, as they deem fair, all expenses, fees, charges, taxes and liabilities incurred or arising in connection with the Trust, or in connection with the management thereof, including but not limited to, the Trustees’ compensation and such expenses and charges for the services of the Trust’s officers, employees, investment advisers, sub-advisers or managers, principal underwriters, auditors, counsel, custodians, transfer agents, shareholder servicing agents, and such other agents or independent contractors, and such other expenses and charges, as the Trustees may deem necessary or proper to incur.
Ownership of Assets of the Trust
Section 5. Title to all of the assets of the Trust and each series and class of Shares shall at all times be considered as vested in the Trustees.
Advisory, Management and Distribution
Section 6. The Trustees may, at any time and from time to time, contract for exclusive or nonexclusive advisory and/or management services with one or more corporations, trusts, associations or other organizations (each a “Manager”), every such contract to comply with such requirements and restrictions as may be set forth in the Bylaws; and any such contract may provide for one or more sub-advisers or other agents who shall perform all or part of the obligations of the relevant Manager under such contract and contain such other terms interpretive of or in addition to said requirements and restrictions as the Trustees may determine, including without limitation, authority to determine from time to time what investments shall be purchased, held, sold or exchanged and what portion, if
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any, of the assets of the Trust shall be held uninvested and to make changes in the Trust’s investments. The Trustees may also, at any time and from time to time, contract with one or more Managers or other corporations, trusts, associations or other organizations, appointing it or them exclusive or nonexclusive distributor(s) and/or principal underwriter(s) for the Shares, every such contract to comply with such requirements and restrictions as may be set forth in the Bylaws; and any such contract may contain such other terms interpretive of or in addition to said requirements and restrictions as the Trustees may determine.
The fact that:
(i) any of the Shareholders, Trustees or officers of the Trust is a shareholder, director, manager, member, officer, partner, trustee, employee, manager, adviser, sub-adviser, principal underwriter, or distributor or agent of or for any corporation, trust, association or other organization, or of or for any parent or affiliate of any organization, with which an advisory, sub-advisory or management contract, or principal underwriter’s or distributor’s contract or transfer, shareholder servicing or other agency contract may have been or may hereafter be made, or that any such organization, or any parent or affiliate thereof, is a Shareholder or has an interest in the Trust, or that
(ii) any corporation, trust, association or other organization with which an advisory, sub-advisory or management contract or principal underwriter’s or distributor’s contract, or transfer, shareholder servicing or other agency contract may have been or may hereafter be made also has an advisory, sub-advisory or management contract, or principal underwriter’s or distributor’s contract or transfer, shareholder servicing or other agency contract with one or more other corporations, trusts, associations or other organizations, or has other business or interests,
shall not affect the validity of any such contract or disqualify any Shareholder, Trustee or officer of the Trust from voting upon or executing the same or create any liability or accountability to the Trust or its Shareholders.
Address of the Trustees and Agent for Service of Process
Section 7. The principal address of the Trustees on the date hereof is c/o Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇. The name and address of the resident agent of the Trust on the date hereof in The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is Corporation Service Company, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇. Each Trustee may change his principal address, and the Trustees may appoint a new or successor resident agent of the Trust, in each case at any time in his or their sole discretion.
ARTICLE V
SHAREHOLDERS’ VOTING POWERS AND MEETINGS
General
Section 1. Except as otherwise provided in this Article V or elsewhere in this Declaration, Shareholders shall have such power to vote as is provided for in, and shall and may hold meetings and take actions pursuant to, the provisions of the Bylaws.
ARTICLE VI
DISTRIBUTIONS, REDEMPTIONS AND REPURCHASES
Distributions
Section 1. The Trustees may each year, or more frequently if they so desire, but need not, distribute to the Shareholders of any or all series out of the assets of such series such amounts as the Trustees may determine. Any such distribution to the Shareholders of a particular series shall be made to said Shareholders pro rata in proportion to the number of Shares of such series held by each of them, except to the extent otherwise required or permitted by the preferences and special or relative rights and privileges of any classes of Shares of that series, and any distribution to the Shareholders of a particular class of Shares shall be made to such Shareholders pro rata in proportion to the number of Shares of such class held by each of them. Such distributions shall be made in cash, Shares or other property, or a combination thereof, as determined by the Trustees. Any such distribution paid in Shares will be paid at the net asset value thereof as determined in accordance with the Bylaws.
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Redemptions and Repurchases
Section 2. The Trust shall purchase such Shares as are offered by any Shareholder for redemption, upon the presentation of any certificate for the Shares to be purchased, a proper instrument of transfer and a request directed to the Trust or a person designated by the Trust that the Trust purchase such Shares, or in accordance with such other procedures for redemption as the Trustees may from time to time authorize; and the Trust will pay therefor the net asset value thereof, as next determined in accordance with the Bylaws, less any redemption charge or fee as the Trustees may from time to time authorize. Except as provided in the next sentence or otherwise permitted by applicable law, payment for said Shares shall be made by the Trust to the Shareholder within seven calendar days after the date on which the request is made. The obligation set forth in this Section 2 is subject to the provision that in the event that any time the New York Stock Exchange is closed for other than customary weekends or holidays, or, if permitted by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, during periods when trading on the New York Stock Exchange is restricted or during any emergency which makes it impracticable for the Trust to dispose of its investments or to determine fairly the value of its net assets, or during any other period permitted by order of the Securities and Exchange Commission for the protection of investors, such obligation may be suspended or postponed by the Trustees. The Trust may also purchase or repurchase Shares at a price not exceeding the net asset value of such Shares in effect when the purchase or repurchase or any contract to purchase or repurchase is made.
Redemption at the Option of the Trust
Section 3. The Trust shall have the right at its option and at any time to redeem Shares of any Shareholder at the net asset value thereof as determined in accordance with the Bylaws: (i) if at such time such Shareholder owns fewer Shares than, or Shares having an aggregate net asset value of less than, an amount determined from time to time by the Trustees; (ii) to the extent that such Shareholder owns Shares of a particular series or class of Shares equal to or in excess of a percentage of the outstanding Shares of that series or class determined from time to time by the Trustees; (iii) to the extent that such Shareholder owns Shares of the Trust representing a percentage equal to or in excess of such percentage of the aggregate number of outstanding Shares of the Trust or the aggregate net asset value of the Trust determined from time to time by the Trustees; (iv) if the Trustees determine that such Shareholder is engaging in conduct that is harmful to the Trust or any series or class; or (iv) if the Trustees otherwise determine such redemption to be necessary or appropriate.
ARTICLE VII
COMPENSATION AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF TRUSTEES
Compensation
Section 1. The Trustees as such shall be entitled to reasonable compensation from the Trust; they may fix the amount of their compensation. Nothing herein shall in any way prevent the Trust’s employment of any Trustee for advisory, management, legal, accounting, investment banking, underwriting, brokerage or other services and payment for the same by the Trust.
Limitation of Liability
Section 2. The Trustees shall not be responsible or liable in any event for any neglect or wrongdoing of any officer, agent, employee, adviser, sub-adviser, manager or principal underwriter of the Trust, nor shall any Trustee be responsible for the act or omission of any other Trustee, but nothing herein contained shall protect any Trustee against any liability to which he or she would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.
Every note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate, Share or undertaking and every other act or thing whatsoever executed or done by or on behalf of the Trust or the Trustees or any of them in connection with the Trust shall be conclusively deemed to have been executed or done only in or with respect to their or his or her capacity as Trustees or Trustee, and such Trustees or Trustee shall not be personally liable thereon.
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ARTICLE VIII
INDEMNIFICATION
Trustees, Officers, etc.
Section 1. The Trust shall indemnify each of its Trustees and officers (including persons who serve at the Trust’s request as directors, officers or trustees of another organization in which the Trust has any interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise) (hereinafter referred to as a “Covered Person”) against all liabilities and expenses, including but not limited to amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines and penalties, and counsel fees reasonably incurred by any Covered Person in connection with the defense or disposition of any action, suit or other proceeding, whether civil or criminal, before any court or administrative or legislative body, in which such Covered Person may be or may have been involved as a party or otherwise or with which such person may be or may have been threatened, while in office or thereafter, by reason of being or having been such a Covered Person, except with respect to any matter as to which such Covered Person shall have been finally adjudicated in a decision on the merits in any such action, suit or other proceeding not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that such Covered Person’s action was in the best interests of the Trust and except that no Covered Person shall be indemnified against any liability to the Trust or its Shareholders to which such Covered Person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such Covered Person’s office. Expenses, including counsel fees so incurred by any such Covered Person (but excluding amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines or penalties), may be paid from time to time by the Trust in advance of the final disposition of any such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Covered Person to repay amounts so paid to the Trust if it is ultimately determined that indemnification of such expenses is not authorized under this Article VIII, provided, that (a) such Covered Person shall provide security for his or her undertaking, (b) the Trust shall be insured against losses arising by reason of such Covered Person’s failure to fulfill his or her undertaking, or (c) a majority of the Trustees who are disinterested persons and who are not Interested Persons of the Trust (provided that a majority of such Trustees then in office act on the matter), or independent legal counsel in a written opinion shall determine, based on a review of readily available facts (but not a full trial-type inquiry), that there is reason to believe such Covered Person ultimately will be entitled to indemnification.
Compromise Payment
Section 2. As to any matter disposed of (whether by a compromise payment, pursuant to a consent decree or otherwise) without an adjudication in a decision on the merits by a court, or by any other body before which the proceeding was brought, that such Covered Person either (a) did not act in good faith in the reasonable belief that such Covered Person’s action was in the best interests of the Trust or (b) is liable to the Trust or its Shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such Covered Person’s office, indemnification shall be provided if (x) approved as in the best interest of the Trust, after notice that it involves such indemnification, by at least a majority of the Trustees who are disinterested persons and are not Interested Persons of the Trust (provided that a majority of such Trustees then in office act on the matter), upon a determination, based upon a review of readily available facts (but not a full trial-type inquiry) that such Covered Person acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that such Covered Person’s action was in the best interests of the Trust and is not liable to the Trust or its Shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such Covered Person’s office, or (y) there has been obtained an opinion in writing of independent legal counsel, based upon a review of readily available facts (but not a full trial-type inquiry), to the effect that such Covered Person appears to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that such Covered Person’s action was in the best interests of the Trust and that such indemnification would not protect such Covered Person against any liability to the Trust or its Shareholders to which such Covered Person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office. Any approval pursuant to this Section 2 shall not prevent the recovery from any Covered Person of any amount paid to such Covered Person in accordance with this Section 2 as indemnification if such Covered Person is subsequently adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that such Covered Person’s action was in the best interests of the Trust or to have been liable to the Trust or its Shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such Covered Person’s office.
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Rebuttable Presumption
Section 3. For purposes of the determination or opinion referred to in clause (c) of Section 1 of this Article VIII or clauses (x) or (y) of Section 2 of this Article VIII, the majority of disinterested Trustees acting on the matter or independent legal counsel, as the case may be, shall be entitled to rely upon a rebuttable presumption that the Covered Person has not engaged in willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such Covered Person’s office.
Indemnification Not Exclusive
Section 4. The right of indemnification hereby provided shall not be exclusive of or affect any other rights to which any such Covered Person may be entitled. As used in this Article VIII, the term “Covered Person” shall include such person’s heirs, executors and administrators, and a “disinterested person” is a person against whom none of the actions, suits or other proceedings in question or another action, suit or other proceeding on the same or similar grounds is then or has been pending. Nothing contained in this Article VIII shall affect any rights to indemnification to which personnel of the Trust, other than Trustees and officers, and other persons may be entitled by contract or otherwise under law, nor the power of the Trust to purchase and maintain liability insurance on behalf of such person; provided, however, that the Trust shall not purchase or maintain any such liability insurance in contravention of the 1940 Act or other applicable law.
Shareholders
Section 5. In case any Shareholder or former Shareholder shall be held to be personally liable solely by reason of his or her being or having been a Shareholder of the Trust and not because of his or her acts or omissions or for some other reason, the Shareholder or former Shareholder (or his or her heirs, executors, administrators or other legal representatives or, in the case of a corporation or other entity, its corporate or other general successor) shall be entitled out of the assets of the series of Shares (or attributable to the class of Shares) of which he or she is a Shareholder or former Shareholder to be held harmless from and indemnified against all loss and expense arising from such liability.
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
Trustees, Shareholders, etc. Not Personally Liable; Notice
Section 1. All persons extending credit to, contracting with or having any claim against the Trust or a particular series or class of Shares shall look only to the assets of the Trust or the assets of that particular series or class of Shares for payment under such credit, contract or claim; and neither the Shareholders nor the Trustees, nor any of the Trust’s officers, employees or agents, whether past, present or future, shall be personally liable therefor. Nothing in this Declaration shall protect any Trustee against any liability to which such Trustee would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the office of Trustee.
Every note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking made or issued by the Trustees or by any officer or officers shall give notice that this Declaration is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and shall recite that the same was executed or made by or on behalf of the Trust or by them as Trustee or Trustees or as officer or officers and not individually and that the obligations of such instrument are not binding upon any of them or the Shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Trust, and may contain such further recital as he or she or they may deem appropriate, but the omission thereof shall not operate to bind any Trustee or Trustees or officer or officers or Shareholder or Shareholders individually.
Trustees’ and Officers’ Good Faith Action, Expert Advice, No Bond or Surety
Section 2. The exercise by the Trustees of their powers and discretions hereunder shall be binding upon everyone interested. A Trustee or officer shall be liable for his or her own willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the office of Trustee or officer, and for nothing else, and shall not be liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law. The Trustees or officers may
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take advice of counsel or other experts with respect to the meaning and operation of this Declaration, and shall be under no liability for any act or omission in accordance with such advice or for failing to follow such advice. The Trustees and officers shall not be required to give any bond as such, nor any surety if a bond is required.
For purposes of (i) any standard of care applicable to a Trustee in the discharge of his or her duties as a trustee and (ii) indemnification of a Trustee pursuant to Article VIII of the Declaration of Trust, the conduct of the Trustee shall be evaluated solely by reference to a hypothetical reasonable person, without regard to any special expertise, knowledge or other qualifications of the Trustee. In particular, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, neither the determination that a Trustee is an “audit committee financial expert” nor the knowledge, experience or other qualifications underlying such a determination shall result in that Trustee being held to a standard of care that is higher than the standard that would be applicable in the absence of such a determination or such knowledge, experience or qualification, nor shall such a determination or such knowledge, experience or other qualification impose any duties, obligations or liabilities that are greater than would obtain in the absence of such a determination or such knowledge, experience or qualification.
Liability of Third Persons Dealing with Trustees
Section 3. No person dealing with the Trustees shall be bound to make any inquiry concerning the validity of any transaction made or to be made by the Trustees or to see to the application of any payments made or property transferred to the Trust or upon its order.
Duration and Termination of Trust
Section 4. Unless terminated as provided herein, the Trust shall continue without limitation of time. The Trust may be terminated at any time by (i) vote of Shareholders holding at least 66 2/3% of the Shares entitled to vote or (ii) by the Trustees by written notice to the Shareholders. Any series or class of Shares may be terminated at any time (i) by vote of Shareholders holding at least 66 2/3% of the Shares of such series or class entitled to vote or (ii) by the Trustees by written notice to the Shareholders of such series or class of Shares. Nothing in this Declaration or the Bylaws shall restrict the power of the Trustees to terminate any series or class of Shares by written notice to the Shareholders of such series, whether or not such Shareholders have voted (or are proposed to vote) with respect to a merger, reorganization, sale of assets or similar transaction involving such series or class of Shares.
Upon termination of the Trust (or of any one or more series or classes of Shares), after paying or otherwise providing for all charges, taxes, expenses and liabilities, whether due or accrued or anticipated, of the Trust or of the particular series or class, as may be determined by the Trustees, the Trust shall in accordance with such procedures as the Trustees consider appropriate reduce the remaining assets to distributable form in cash or shares or other property, or any combination thereof, and distribute the proceeds to the Shareholders of the series or classes involved, ratably according to the number of Shares of such series or class held by the several Shareholders on the date of termination, except to the extent otherwise required or permitted by the preferences and special or relative rights and privileges of any series or classes of Shares. For the avoidance of doubt, “ratably” as used above shall refer to the proceeds themselves and shall not prevent different Shareholders from receiving different forms of property.
Reorganizations
Section 5. The Trust, or any one or more series of the Trust, may, either as the successor, survivor or non-survivor, (i) consolidate or merge with one or more other trusts, series, sub-trusts, partnerships, limited liability companies, associations or corporations organized under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts or any other jurisdiction, to form a consolidated or merged trust, series, sub-trust, partnership, limited liability company, association or corporation under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts or any other jurisdiction or (ii) transfer all or a substantial portion of its assets to one or more other trusts, series, sub-trusts, partnerships, limited liability companies, associations or corporations organized under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts or any other jurisdiction, or have one or more such trusts, series, sub-trusts, partnerships, limited liability companies, associations or corporations transfer all or a substantial portion of its assets to it, any such consolidation, merger or transfer to be upon such terms and conditions as are specified in an agreement and plan of reorganization authorized and approved by the Trustees and entered into by the Trust, or one or more series, as the case may be, in connection therewith. Unless otherwise required by applicable law, any such consolidation, merger or transfer may be authorized by vote of a majority of the Trustees then in office without the approval of Shareholders of the Trust or relevant series.
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Filing of Copies, References, Headings
Section 6. The original or a copy of this instrument and of each amendment hereto shall be kept at the office of the Trust where it may be inspected by any Shareholder. A copy of this instrument and of each amendment hereto shall be filed by the Trust with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and, if required, with the Boston City Clerk, as well as any other governmental office where such filing may from time to time be required. Anyone dealing with the Trust may rely on a certificate by an officer of the Trust as to whether or not any such amendments have been made and as to any matters in connection with the Trust hereunder; and, with the same effect as if it were the original, may rely on a copy certified by an officer of the Trust to be a copy of this instrument or of any such amendments. In this instrument and in any such amendment, references to this instrument, and all expressions like “herein,” “hereof,” and “hereunder,” shall be deemed to refer to this instrument as amended or affected by any such amendments. Headings are placed herein for convenience of reference only and shall not be taken as a part hereof or control or affect the meaning, construction or effect of this instrument. This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original.
Applicable Law
Section 7. This Declaration is made in The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and it is created under and is to be governed by and construed and administered according to the laws of said Commonwealth. The Trust shall be of the type commonly called a “Massachusetts business trust,” and without limiting the provisions hereof, the Trust may exercise all powers which are ordinarily exercised by such a trust.
Amendments
Section 8. All rights granted to the Shareholders under this Declaration are granted subject to the reservation of the right to amend this Declaration as herein provided, except that no amendment shall repeal the limitations on personal liability of any Shareholder, Trustee or officer or repeal the prohibition of assessment upon the Shareholders without the express consent of each Shareholder, Trustee or officer involved. Subject to the foregoing, this Declaration may be amended at any time by an instrument in writing signed by a majority of the then Trustees (or by an officer of the Trust pursuant to a vote of a majority of such Trustees) when authorized to do so by vote of Shareholders holding a majority of the Shares entitled to vote, except that an amendment which in the determination of the Trustees shall affect the holders of one or more series or classes of Shares but not the holders of all outstanding series and classes of Shares shall be authorized by vote of the Shareholders holding a majority of the Shares entitled to vote of each series and class affected, and no vote of Shareholders of a series or class not affected shall be required. In addition to the foregoing, the provisions of this Declaration (whether or not related to the rights of Shareholders) may be amended for any other reason at any time without the vote or consent of Shareholders, so long as such amendment does not materially adversely affect the rights of any Shareholder with respect to which such amendment is or purports to be applicable and so long as such amendment is not in contravention of applicable law, including the 1940 Act, by an instrument in writing signed by a majority of such Trustees. Furthermore, and for the avoidance of doubt, amendments to this Declaration having the purpose of changing the name of the Trust or of supplying any omission, curing any ambiguity or curing, correcting, or supplementing any defective or inconsistent provision contained herein shall not require authorization by Shareholders’ vote.
Address of the Trust
Section 9. As of the date hereof, the principal address of the Trust is ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇. The Trustees may change the principal address of the Trust to any location within or without The Commonwealth of Massachusetts as they shall determine in their sole discretion. The address of each of the Trustees is the same as the principal address of the Trust.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, all of the Trustees as aforesaid do hereto set their hands this 25th day of July, 2012.
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[Signature Page to the Premier Multi-Series VIT Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust]